Switch device for incubators



March 31, 1931. c. A. CYPHERS SWITCH DEVICE FOR INCUBATORS Filed Nov. 14. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I -/4 /z g vmnto'n Charles .flq plwm,

l V/rmsss 55:- Z

Patented Mar. 31, 1931 1,798,835

UNITED STATES areal caries CHARLES A. CYPHERS, QF BUFFALO, NEW YORK SWITCH DEVICE FOR IN CUBATORS Application filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,239.

This invention relates to an automatic heat corresponding parts throughoutthe several controlling unit adapted particularly for use figures of the drawings. in connection with incubators and the like. In its prime To that end the invention contemplates a includes in r. 6 novel switch or circuit closer of the mercury device designated geuerallv S and a prii 1e 65 type possessing special features and oharacmover or actuzu r in the form of the thermom ter being" connected with the tertist'ics which distinguish it from prior destat i, the

vices both from the standpoint of reliable switcn through suitable lever, as vxi" performance and advantages resulting in its hcreinai more ful appear.

use. Heretotfore, mercury switches have not Referr 1g first to the switch device S it will been accurate because it has been customary be observe hat the samei .cludes a g or to pivot the mercury bulb centrally so that equivalent ulatmg bulb 1 having th "u the weight resistance incident to the throwthe contact members 2 and 8, the former beover for the make-and-break increased or de ing of elongz' ted tormati on and l lengthcreased the tension on the thermostat. ()bwise in. the bi tom of the bulb so that may viously differential loading condit ons on the always be in contact with the mercury or other motive power, namely the thermostat, is unshiftable circuit closing medium 4. The said desirable on account of the delicate character glass bulb l s1 ounded by an insulation oi the thermostat and therefore the present band or member and is carried by the lower 20 invention contemplates a construction which looped end 6 of a carrier ar 7 which is wii function Without preceptible change in pivoted as at 8 to the pendant suspending the tension on the thermostat and will also lever 9 and has the adjustable pin and slot operate with a minimum of friction. I connection 10 with the intermediate part or" A further object of the invention is to prosaid lever 9 so that he angular position of he 25 vide a pendant switch which operates with a longitudinal axis of the bulb 1 may h free and unhampered pendulum motion or changed to suit different installations and action, thereby providing a simple, reliable conditions of use. and smooth acting controlling means for th The pendant lever 9 is preferably provided circuit which requires practically no attention at its upper end with a hub portion 11 so that 30 after once being set, and w iich will give good the said lever is pendulously supported to service indefinitely. swing fully on the she; t 12 pivotall mounted With the above and other objects in. view in the opposite 13 of a bracket 14L by which will more readily appear as the nature means or" the ad ustable l caring screws 15. of the invention is better understood, the same The contacts 2 and 3 are adapted to be con- 35 consists in the novel construction, combinanected in series by the mercury 4t, and each tion and arrangement of parts herein :tter contact is provided with a circuit wire conmore fully described, illustrated and claimec. nection respectively designated as 2 and 3 A preferred and practical embodiment of the former leading to a binding terminal 17 the invention is shown in the accompanying and the latter to a binding terminal 18 to drawings, in which which is connected one of the wires 19 of a Figure 1 is airont elevation of the im ervice line 20, the other wire 21 oi said line proved device. being connected to the binding terminal 22. Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. The said terminals 17 and 22 are connected Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional with the heating element, not shown. 45 View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. The bracket 14: is carried by a suitable sup- Figured-isa view similar to Fig.3showing port or base B which also carries the inthe switch open. sulated block 23 on which the binding ter- Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional minals referred to are mounted. A guard 24 view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3. is a.so carried by the base for protecting the 50 Similar reference characters designate switch bulb from accidental contact with any object which might destroy it; purpose of holding the entire pendulum-like arm 9 in a position where it will not swing, as for example holding it in a position w iere the circuit will be permanently open when the apparatus is not in use, or to hold it in a fixed position during transportation to prevent damage, a suitable locking pin 25 is provided. This pin is pivotally mounted in the support and is provided with a pair of spaced, laterally offset, arms 26 which are adapted to embrace both sides of the lever 9 to hold it in a rigid position for shipping, or out of contact when lever 9 is resting on the outer arm.

As will be observed from Fins.

pper portion of the arm 9 has a M nx connected therewith, the said link being in turn connected with a controlling lever 28 which is carried by a plate 29. This plate is pivotally mounted upon vertically disposed shait or axis 36 so that it may freely swing in a horizontal plane thereby to move the pendulum-like lever 9 from the position shown in Fig. 3 f r instance to the position shown in 4- to break the circuit, or vice versa. 7 r

The plate 29 carries therewith a screw which is adapted to bear against the thermostat T so that when the same expands and contracts,'the movement thereof will be imparted directly to the lever 28. Clearly,

therefore, as the thermostat contracts the pendulum w1ll move backwards under its own weight to cause the mercury to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 to close the circuit, and on the other hand, when the thermostat expands under heat the lever 28 will be moved away from the support and thus roclr the bulb 1 to the position shown in Fig. 4: to open or break the circuit. In changing the relative position of the bulb 1 on the end of the lever 9 by means of adjusting the same on the pivot 8, more or less movement of the lever 28 will be required to move the pendulum to open and close'the circuit.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel and distinctive form of mercury switch having a pendulum action, which for the reasons heretofore pointed out, is particularly advantageous for use in connection with a relatively delicate thermostat of the type used onincubators and the like.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages or" the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, pro portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims. 5

and, for the I claim 2- 1. A switch device of the class described comprising a bracket, supported from said bracket, a circuit c1os ing device comprising a receptacle having fixed contacts and a mercury contact carried by the end or" the pendulously supported lever, a guard said receptacle in the form of fixed channel member of J-shaped cross-section within which the receptacle is disposed, and thermostat operated means for controlling the movement of said pendulously supported lever.

2. in device of the class described, a i ivoted lever, a frangible contact containing eceptacle carried by said lever, and a pivoted or-l; device adapted to be swun to a posiion to dispose the prongs thereotto opposite sides o1 l lever to prevent swinging movement or" the latter.

3. A. switch device of the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a therror impel ting swinging movement thereto, an arm pivoted to said lever, a switch cemising receptacle having fixed contacts and containing a shittable contact for cooperation with Si fixed contacts, said switch bei carried by said arm, and a pin and slot correction between said arm and said lever 'ng the arm and consequently the switch in different pivotally adjusted positions relatively to the lever.

l. A switch device of the character described comprising a pivoted lever, a thermostat operatively connectedwith said lever for imparting swinging movement thereto, an arm pivoted to said lever, a switch comprising a receptacle having fixed contacts and containing a tion with said fixed contacts, said switch being carried by said arm, said arm having an elongated arcua e slot concentric with respect to the pivotal connection between said arm and said lever, and screw clamp means carried by slot for cooperation with said arm to secure thc latter and consequently the switch in difr erentpivotally adjusted positions relatively to the lever.

In testimony whereof signature.

CHARLE A. overnns.

a lever pendulously "tively connected with said. lever shittable contact for cooperathe lever and extending through said l hereunto aliix my 

